Poinsettias from the Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California

The poinsettia (/p??n's?ti?/p or /??n's?t?/) (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important seed varieties of the diverse spurge family. The species is indigenous to Mexico. It is particularly well known because of its inexperienced and red foliage and it is widely used in Xmas floral shows. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett,[3] the first United States Minister to Mexico,[4] who introduced the plant to the US in 1825.

Euphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, attaining a elevation of 0 typically.6-4 metres (2 ft 0 in-13 ft 1 in). The seed bears dark renewable dentate leaves that solution 7-16 centimetres (2.8-6.3 in) in length. The colored bracts--which are most flaming red but can be orange often, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled--are often mistaken for blossom petals for their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves.[citation needed] The colors of the bracts are manufactured through photoperiodism, meaning that they require darkness (12 hours at the same time for at least five days in a row) to change color. At the same time, the vegetation require numerous light during the full day for the brightest color. The flowers of the poinsettia are unassuming and don't attract pollinators. They are grouped within small yellow structures found in the center of every leaf bunch, and are called cyathia. The poinsettia is native to Mexico. It really is within the outdoors in deciduous exotic forests at average elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. It is found in the inside in the hot also, seasonally dry forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Accounts of E. pulcherrima growing in the open in Nicaragua and Costa Rica have yet to be validated by botanists. You can find over 100 cultivated varieties of poinsettia.

The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication. In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is named Cuitlaxochitl, meaning "flower that grows in residues or soil" Today it is known in Mexico and Guatemala as Flor de Noche Buena, meaning Christmas Eve Flower. In Spain it is known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, signifying Easter flower. In Peru and Chile, the plant became known as Crown of the Andes. In Turkey, it is called Atat?rk's rose because Atat?rk, the creator of the Republic, liked this blossom and made a substantial contribution to its cultivation in Turkey.[citation needed] In Hungarian, it is called Santa Claus' Blossom, and it's widely used as a Holiday decoration.

The plant's connection with Christmas started out in 16th-century Mexico, where story tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to give a present for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was encouraged by an angel to assemble weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the chapel altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the crops in their Christmas activities. The star-shaped leaf design is thought to symbolize the Superstar of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood vessels sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus. Poinsettias are popular Christmas designs in homes, churches, offices, and in other places across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In america, Dec 12 is Country wide Poinsettia Day.

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